Podcasts about spring symphony

This Day in Legal History: Libya Surrenders NationalsOn April 5, 1999, a pivotal moment in the annals of international law and aviation security unfolded as the Libyan government surrendered two of its nationals, Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi and Al Amin Khalifa Fhimah, to British authorities. These individuals were implicated in one of the most devastating acts of terrorism in history—the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, on December 21, 1988. This tragedy not only claimed the lives of 270 people, including 11 on the ground but also marked a profound moment of grief and outrage across the globe.The surrender of the accused to the British government was a culmination of years of diplomatic negotiations and international sanctions against Libya, reflecting the persistent efforts of the victims' families and international community to seek justice. The trial, which began on May 3, 2000, at a special court in the Netherlands, was notable for being held under Scottish law—a unique legal arrangement that underscored the international dimensions of the case.The court proceedings were meticulous and exhaustive, drawing upon a wealth of evidence that included forensic analysis, witness testimonies, and the intricate tracing of the bomb's components. After extensive deliberations, the verdict was pronounced: Al Amin Khalifa Fhimah was acquitted and returned to Libya, a decision that stirred a mix of reactions worldwide. Conversely, Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment, a conviction that would later be mired in controversy and calls for re-examination.Megrahi's conviction did not close the chapter on the Lockerbie bombing; it instead opened further debate and investigation, including questions about the evidence, the legitimacy of the trial, and the role of other potential co-conspirators. His release in 2009 on compassionate grounds, due to terminal cancer, sparked further international debate and diplomatic tensions.This day in legal history underscores the complexities of achieving justice in the wake of terrorism, the challenges of international cooperation in legal matters, and the enduring impact of the Lockerbie bombing on the fields of aviation security and international law.The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals is at the center of controversies involving attempts to move high-profile cases out of its jurisdiction, potentially preventing the court from ruling on matters of national importance. This situation arises as questions are raised about the appropriateness of filing certain legal challenges, particularly against government actions, in Texas courts. The ongoing scrutiny aims to determine if these cases genuinely belong in the jurisdictions where they were filed, amidst concerns over "judge shopping"—the practice of selecting courts thought to be favorable to the case.The Fifth Circuit is deliberating on whether to block lower court decisions that would transfer cases involving the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and Elon Musk's SpaceX to other federal courts. These moves are challenged under the premise that they could dilute the Fifth Circuit's ability to influence significant legal questions. Transfers are finalized once a case is docketed in the new jurisdiction, which then assumes authority, complicating any attempts to revert the transfer unless the new presiding judge consents.Appeals to prevent these transfers hinge on the high threshold for a writ of mandamus, a rare form of relief requiring clear evidence of a lower court's abuse of discretion. The scrutiny extends to the public perception of the Fifth Circuit's motivations, with some experts warning that aggressive efforts to retain cases could reflect poorly on the judiciary's impartiality.Historically, the Fifth Circuit has encountered issues with jurisdiction after cases were moved, as seen in a dispute involving a "ghost gun" company, highlighting the practical consequences of losing authority over transferred cases. The court's involvement in the SpaceX case, including a rare inquiry into the conduct of NLRB lawyers, further underscores the tension between maintaining jurisdiction and adhering to procedural norms.Judicial decisions on venue transfers, such as the recent ruling to move a lawsuit from Texas to Washington, D.C., reflect broader concerns about judge shopping and the integrity of case assignments. This ongoing saga emphasizes the complex interplay between legal strategy, jurisdictional authority, and the quest for a fair and appropriate venue for high-stakes litigation.Fifth Circuit Risks Losing Big Cases Amid Judge Shopping WorriesTerraform Labs and its co-founder Do Kwon are set to present their final arguments in a civil fraud trial, responding to charges from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that they deceived investors about the stability of their stablecoin, TerraUSD, and its underlying technology. The SEC's allegations include false claims about Terraform's blockchain being utilized in a popular Korean payment app, aiming to secure civil penalties and industry bans for Kwon and Terraform. Despite Kwon's absence from the trial due to his arrest in Montenegro on separate charges, Terraform's defense contends that the SEC's case relies on out-of-context statements and incentivized whistleblowers. The collapse of TerraUSD in May 2022, which the SEC attributes to manipulated market actions by Kwon and his company, resulted in a $40 billion investor loss and significant disruptions in the broader cryptocurrency market.Terraform Labs to make final pitch to jury as civil fraud trial wraps | ReutersA New York judge has scheduled a hearing for April 22 to scrutinize the $175 million bond posted by former U.S. President Donald Trump. This bond was a condition for pausing a $454 million fraud judgment against him while he appeals the decision. The New York Attorney General, Letitia James, raised questions about the sufficiency of the assets of Knight Specialty Insurance Company—the firm Trump used for the bond—prompting the need for proof that it can cover the bond if Trump's appeal fails. Trump's bond was facilitated by the insurance company owned by Don Hankey, a California businessman known for his dealings in subprime car loans. Faced with a "practical impossibility" of raising the full amount initially required for the bond, Trump's team secured Knight Specialty's services after an appeals court provided a lifeline by granting an extension and reducing the bond amount. Hankey, dubbed "the king of subprime car loans," has a reputation for lending to individuals with poor credit at high rates and aggressive debt collection practices. Despite his wealth, evidenced by his ranking on Forbes's lists, and his history of significant Republican donations and financial dealings with Trump-related properties through Axos Bank, concerns about the sufficiency of assets stem from the specialized, high-risk nature of his business ventures. Knight Specialty's involvement, driven by a blend of business decision-making and political support for Trump, underscores the complexities and potential risks of securing such a substantial bond, especially given the magnitude of Trump's legal and financial challenges.This development adds another layer to Trump's legal challenges, which include efforts to dismiss criminal charges in Georgia related to the 2020 election and classified records handling, as well as a New York criminal trial on hush money payments set to begin a week before the bond hearing. Trump, who faces four indictments amidst his presidential campaign, has pleaded not guilty in all criminal cases.The fraud judgment by Judge Arthur Engoron in February, which Trump is appealing, found him liable for significantly overstating his assets' value. Trump's legal team has dismissed concerns over the bond as baseless, while representatives from Knight Specialty Insurance have not commented on the matter. According to a court filing, Knight claims to have $539 million in assets, including $26.8 million in cash, as it faces scrutiny over its ability to support Trump's bond amidst his multifaceted legal battles.Trump's $175 million bond questioned by New York AG, hearing scheduled | ReutersNew York AG Questions if $175 Million Bond Insurer Can Save TrumpThat Guy Who Backed Trump's Bond? He May Not Have the MoneyHow did Trump pay his $175m fraud bond – and who helped him?This week's closing theme is by Robert Schumann.Robert Schumann stands as one of the quintessential figures in the Romantic era of classical music, renowned for his richly expressive compositions that spanned piano, chamber music, lieder (those are art songs), and orchestral works. Born in Zwickau, Saxony, in 1810, Schumann initially intended to pursue a career in law, following the wishes of his family–but we're all glad he didn't. His deep passion for music, coupled with a hand injury that thwarted his ambitions of becoming a virtuoso pianist, led him down the path of composition and music criticism. Schumann's compositions are celebrated for their emotional depth, innovative harmonies, and poetic inspirations, reflecting the complex inner world of an artist who struggled with mental health issues throughout his life.In 1841, a year marked by newfound confidence and creativity for Schumann, he composed his Symphony No. 1 in B-flat major, Op. 38, commonly known as the "Spring" Symphony. Inspired by the poem "Spring" by Adolf Böttger, the symphony bursts with the freshness, vitality, and optimism of the season. The work was Schumann's bold entry into the world of symphonic music, encouraged by his wife, the eminent pianist and composer Clara Wieck Schumann. It was completed in just four days in January, a testament to Schumann's intense creative fervor during this period.The "Spring" Symphony premiered on March 31, 1841, in Leipzig, conducted by Felix Mendelssohn, a close friend and champion of Schumann's music. The reception was overwhelmingly positive, with the symphony hailed as a vibrant and joyful ode to spring. Its success established Schumann's reputation as a master of the symphonic form, a remarkable feat for someone who had previously been known primarily for his piano works and songs.The opening movement, "Andante un poco maestoso – Allegro molto vivace," immediately sets the tone of awakening and renewal. It begins with a slow, majestic introduction that evokes the first stirrings of spring, before launching into the lively and exuberant main Allegro section. This movement is characterized by its rhythmic vitality and melodic inventiveness, featuring a recurring fanfare motif that Schumann described as the "call of awakening" for spring. The energy and optimism of the Allegro perfectly capture the essence of the season, making it a fitting introduction to a symphony that remains one of Schumann's most beloved works.Schumann's Symphony No. 1, with its vivid depiction of spring's arrival and rejuvenation, not only solidified his place among the great symphonists of the Romantic era but also offered a deeply personal reflection of the composer's own sense of renewal and hope. Through the "Spring" Symphony, and particularly its spirited Allegro, Schumann invites listeners to share in the joy and boundless possibilities of the season, making it a timeless piece that continues to enchant and inspire.Without further ado, Robert Schumann's Symphony no. 1 in B flat 'Spring', Op. 38, the fourth movement, the allegro. 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Jay has assembled a little celebration of spring: songs, arias, a symphony, a sonata. Who doesn't want to sing spring? Argento, “Spring,” from “Six Elizabethan Songs” Sinding, “Rustle of Spring” Wagner, “Du bist der Lenz,” from “Die Walküre” Beethoven, “Spring” Sonata, Rondo Strauss, “Herr Lenz” Saint-Saëns, “Printemps qui commence,” from “Samson et Dalila” Schumann, “Er ist's” Hoiby, “Always It's Spring” Wolf, “Er ist's” Schumann, “Spring” Symphony, first movement Warlock, “Pretty Ring Time”

Mozart, Beethoven, Faure, Schumann.

Join Russell Gant for Our Tuesday Concert with Sarasota Orchestra from last October featuring the Mozart Piano Concerto No. 20 with pianist Dominic Cheli, plus a performance of Schumann's Spring Symphony. Originally broadcast on Classical WSMR July 12th, 2022 at 8:00 on WSMR 89.1 & 103.9 and online at WSMR.org. Stream us on the WUSF and NPR One apps. Ask your smart speaker to “Play Classical WSMR.”

What spring birdsong is Laura happiest to hear?

Synopsis Following the successful premiere of his First Symphony in 1876, the New England composer John Knowles Paine finished a Second, which he gave a German subtitle: “Im Fruehling” or “In Springtime.” In 19th century America, “serious” music meant German music, and “serious” musicians like Paine all studied in Germany. Returning home, Paine became the first native-born American to win acceptance as a symphonic composer, and, accepting a teaching post at Harvard, became that school's first professor of music. On today's date in 1880, when Paine's “Spring” Symphony was premiered at Sanders Theater, the normally staid Bostonians went nuts. One critic who was present, recalled that “ladies waved their handkerchiefs, men shouted in approbation, and the highly respected John S. Dwight, arbiter in Boston of music criticism, stood in his seat frantically opening and shutting his umbrella as an expression of uncontrollable enthusiasm.” Paine's music remained tremendously popular in his own day. In 1883 George Henschel, then the conductor of the Boston Symphony, was sent the following poetic suggestion about his programming: Let no more Wagner themes thy bill enhance And give the native workers just one chance. Don't give that Dvorák symphony a-gain; If you would give us joy, oh give us Paine! Music Played in Today's Program John Knowles Paine (1839 - 1906) — Symphony No. 2 (New York Philharmonic; Zubin Mehta, cond.) New World 350 On This Day Births 1839 - American composer and organist Dudley Buck, in Hartford, Conn.; 1844 - Spanish composer and violinist Pablo de Sarasate, in Pamplona; 1892 - French composer Arthur Honegger, in Le Harve; 1903 - American composer and jazz cornetist Bix Beiderbecke, in Davenport, Iowa; Deaths 1832 - Italian-born composer Muzio Clementi, age 80, in Evesham, England; 1870 - Czech-born composer and pianist Ignaz Moscheles, age 75, in Leipzig; 1910 - German composer Carl Reinecke, age 85, in Leipzig; 1991 - American composer Elie Siegmeister, age 82, in Manhasset, N.Y.; Premieres 1785 - Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 21 in C, K. 467, at the Burgtheater in Vienna, with the composer as soloist; 1837 - Mercadante: opera "Il Giuramento" (The Oath), in Milan; 1875 - Goldmark: opera "Die Königin von Saba" (The Queen of Sheba), in Vienna at the Court Opera (Hofoper); 1877 - Borodin: Symphony No. 2, in St. Petersburg, by the Russian Musical Society, Eduard Nápravik conducting (Julian date: Feb. 26); 1880 - Paine: Symphony No. 2 ("Spring"), at Sanders Theater in Boston, by the Boston Philharmonic, Bernard Listermann conducting; The following day, the orchestra of the Harvard Musical Association performed the same work downtown at Boston's Musical Hall, with Carl Zerrahn conducting; 1888 - Franck: symphonic poem "Pysché," in Paris; 1912 - Gliere: Symphony No. 3 ("Ilya Murometz") in Moscow (Gregorian date: Mar. 23); 1916 - Granados: "Intermezzo & Epilogue," from "Goyescas," by the Philadelphia Orchestra, Leopold Stokowski conducting; 1922 - Loeffler: "Irish Fantasies" (Nos. 2, 3 & 5 only) for voice and orchestra, by the Boston Symphony, with Pierre Monteux conducting and tenor John McCormack the soloist; 1932 - Wallingford Riegger: "Dichotomy" for orchestra, in Berlin; 1952 - David Diamond: Quintet for clarinet and strings, at Town Hall in New York City, by clarinetist David Oppenheim, Nathan Gordon and Lillian Fuchs (violins), and Aaron Twerdowsky and Bernard Greenhouse (cellos); 1963 - Henze: opera "Il re cervo" (The Stag King), in Kassel at the Staatstheater; This is the 2nd version of Henze's opera "König Hirsch" which was first staged in an abridged version in Berlin on September 24, 1956; The complete original version of the opera was eventually staged in Stuttgart on May 7, 1985; 1964 - John Harbison: "Sinfonia," in Cambridge, Mass., with violinist Rose Mary Harbison and the Bach Society Orchestra of Harvard, Gregory Biss conducting; 1977 - John Harbison: "Diotima" for orchestra, in Boston, with the Boston Symphony, Joseph Silverstein conducting; Others 1937 - Frank Capra's film "The Lost Horizon" opens at the Four Stars Theater in Los Angeles, featuring a classic film score composed by Dmitri Tiomkin (and conducted by Max Steiner). Links and Resources On John Knowles Paine More on Paine at Harvard

Producer/Host: Rob McCall Production Assistance: Rebecca McCall

Producer/Host: Rob McCall Production Assistance: Rebecca McCall

Schumann: Symphony No. 1 in B-flat Major, Op. 38 "Spring Symphony" Tchaikovsky: Symphony No 1 in G minor, Op. 13 "Winter Dreams" Dominique Beaulieu, conductor CMD Paris Philharmonic in Orleans Purchase the music (without talk) for only $2.99 at: http://www.classicalsavings.com/store/p542/The_First_Symphonies_2_-_Schumann%2C_Tchaikovsky.html Your purchase helps to support our show! Classical Music Discoveries is sponsored by La Musica International Chamber Music Festival and Uber. @khedgecock #ClassicalMusicDiscoveries #KeepClassicalMusicAlive #LaMusicaFestival #CMDGrandOperaCompanyofVenice #CMDParisPhilharmonicinOrléans #CMDGermanOperaCompanyofBerlin #CMDGrandOperaCompanyofBarcelonaSpain #ClassicalMusicLivesOn #Uber Please consider supporting our show, thank you! http://www.classicalsavings.com/donate.html staff@classicalmusicdiscoveries.com

Today we celebrate an English poet who didn't want gardens to be monetized. We'll also learn about the 8th generation seedsman of a beloved Boston company. We remember the naturalist who followed the seasons up and down the country. We also recognize the exuberant botanist, who created the Dot Map. We welcome the new month with some poems about "the Queen of the Ripe Season" - August. We Grow That Garden Library™ with a book that was created by one of the world's best garden photographers. It's a beauty. And then we'll wrap things up with a little Q&A about the origin of Plant Names.   But first, let's catch up on some Greetings from Gardeners around the world and today's curated news.   Subscribe Apple|Google|Spotify|Stitcher|iHeart   Gardener Greetings To participate in the Gardener Greetings segment, send your garden pics, stories, birthday wishes and so forth to Jennifer@theDailyGardener.org And, to listen to the show while you're at home, just ask Alexa or Google to play The Daily Gardener Podcast. It's that easy.   Curated News Double Coconut: The Largest Seed in the World | Kew Here's an excerpt:: “On the beautiful islands of the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean grows a legendary palm. Lodoicea maldivica (“LOW-DOE-ah-SEE-ah MAHL-div-eh-cah”) , also known as the double coconut, or coco-de-mer, is renowned for producing the largest and heaviest seeds in the world. With their rather suggestive shape and weighing up to an impressive 25kg, (about 55 pounds!) while measuring up to half a meter long, these spectacular seeds are attractive to scientists, tourists, and poachers alike. Legend has it that the double coconut possesses medicinal properties [and] single nuts currently sell for £500-£2,000. Sadly, due to overharvesting, there are now only around 8,000 wild mature Lodoicea palms on just two islands. To protect them from going extinct, seeds in the wild and in botanical gardens worldwide that have managed to grow them, are carefully guarded, sometimes even placed in cages, to prevent poaching.”   Weather Update August really begins to set the stage for fall and fall-like weather. But, remember, the most significant change that is affecting your plants right now is the reduction in daylight. We are not as sensitive to it, but believe me, our plants notice even the most subtle changes in the amount of daylight. All through August, the length of daylight starts to rapidly decline as the calendar approaches the autumnal equinox, with 12 hours of day and night, approaches in September. In the northern half of the United States, we lose 2 to 3 minutes of daylight every single day in August. For example, today, in NYC, the sun will set at 8:11 pm. But, already by the end of the month, the sun will set around 7:30 pm. And, in Seattle tonight, the sun sets at around 8:45 pm. By the end of the month, it will set almost a full hour earlier. The last full month of summer brings many changes in the weather.  Hurricanes begin to get active later in August. In a typical year, August brings triple the number of named storms compared to July. If you look at the number of storms during the summer, August's total would be greater than June and July combined. The Rockies and Alaska usually get their first snows in August. August brings average cooler temperatures, and the length of daylight decreases. Although you may not be noticing the decrease in light, your houseplants are certainly making adjustments - especially African Violets (Saintpaulia species), Christmas Cactus, and Cyclamens.   Are you growing, Gladiola? The plants are also sometimes called the Sword Lily. Gladiola is Latin for a small sword. In Victorian times, the Gladiola meant, "You pierce my heart." And the next time you see a Gladiola, take a closer look: Members of this family produce parts in multiples of three. There are three sepals, colored to look like petals, and three true petals, and three stamens.   Alright, that's it for today's gardening news. Now, if you'd like to check out my curated news articles and blog posts for yourself, you're in luck, because I share all of it with the Listener Community in the Free Facebook Group - The Daily Gardener Community. There's no need to take notes or search for links - the next time you're on Facebook, search for Daily Gardener Community and request to join. I'd love to meet you in the group.   Important Events 1743 Today is the anniversary of the death of the English poet Richard Savage. Richard once wrote about a practice among the wealthy, allowing their servants to show their gardens in exchange for money. Even the Queen let her Richmond garden and cave to be viewed for a sum. It was a practice that distressed Richard. Richard wrote: But what the flowering pride of gardens rare, However royal, or however fair, If gates, which to access should still give way, Open but, like Peter's paradise, for pay? If perquisited varlets frequent stand, And each new walk must a new tax demand? What foreign eye but with contempt surveys? What Muse shall from oblivion snatch their praise? Richard wisely withheld these lines from publication while the Queen was alive. But after her death, he published his work in its entirety.   1900  Today is the anniversary of the death of the seedsman Charles Henry Bass Breck. Charles was the 8th generation heir to Joseph Breck & Sons, a wholesaler, and retail company located in Boston, Massachusetts. Breck & Sons specialized in seed, flowers, and agricultural tools and was founded by Joseph Breck - who was a descendant of one of the first puritan families in the country. Charles' father, Joseph, amassed a botanical publishing empire after he acquired the New England Farmer, and later Horticultural Register and Gardens magazine. For decades, the Breck's catalog, which featured many plant engravings, served as the primary educational reference for east coast farmers. Charles served as vice-president of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society for over twenty years until his death on this day in 1900. And here's a little-known fact about Charles - he was an accomplished flutist, and he was a generous patron of the arts in Boston. Forty years after Charles died, Breck & Sons had two locations at 85 State Street and 85 Franklyn Street in Boston. One of their most famous customers was Beatrix Farrand. Beatrix Farrand bought seed and roses from the Brecks for her estate Dumbarton Oaks Gardens in Washington, D.C.   1923   The botanist Edwin Way Teale married Nelly Imogene Donovan. Edwin and Nelly met in college. After they married, they moved to New York so that Edwin could continue his education at Columbia University. Edwin's first job was writing for the magazine  Popular Science. On the side, Edwin began taking pictures and specializing in nature photography. When Edwin was 42, he left Popular Science and became a freelancer. By 1943, his book  By-ways to Adventure: A Guide to Nature Hobbies won the John Burroughs Medal for distinguished natural history writing. During World War II, Teale's son, David, was killed in Germany. Edwin and Nelly began traveling across the country by automobile, and the trips help them cope with their grief. The trips became not only a catharsis but also an integral part of Edwin's writing. Their 1947 journey, covering 17,000 miles in a black Buick, following the advance of spring, led to Edwin's book north with the spring. Additional road trips lead to more books: Journey Into Summer, Autumn Across America, and Wandering Through Winter. Wandering Through Winter won the Pulitzer Prize in 1966. And, it was Edward Way Teale who said: For man, autumn is a time of harvest, of gathering together. For nature, it is a time of sowing, of scattering abroad. Any fine morning, a power saw can fell a tree that took a thousand years to grow. Nature is shy and noncommittal in a crowd. To learn her secrets, visit her alone or with a single friend, at most. Everything evades you, everything hides, even your thoughts escape you when you walk in a crowd. Our minds, as well as our bodies, need the out-of-doors. Our spirits, too, need simple things, elemental things, the sun and the wind and the rain, moonlight, and starlight, sunrise and mist and mossy forest trails, the perfumes of dawn, and the smell of fresh-turned earth and the ancient music of wind among the trees.   1927   Today is the birthday of the botanist Franklyn Hugh Perring who is born in London on this day. Franklyn was the best kind of botanist, possessing the eagerness of an amateur and the training of a true professional. He also had an outstanding field botanist with a phenomenal memory for plants. At heart, he was a conservationist. In 1962, Franklyn, along with Max Walters, wrote The Atlas of the British Flora, which some called the most important natural history book of the 20th century. After getting his Ph.D. at Cambridge, Max Walters, the director of the University herbarium, invited Franklyn to map the distribution of all the wildflowers trees and ferns of England and Ireland. The year was 1954, and it was a very ambitious and groundbreaking project; Franklyn said, "yes." And, that's how Franklyn Perring was the first person to create a Dot Map. Thanks to the help of countless citizen scientists, Max and Franklyn successfully mapped all of Britain's plants in under five years - and that fact is even more impressive after learning the entire country was divided into 10 km squares. Frank once wrote, "The amateur naturalist or the professional can make a significant contribution to biological knowledge by volunteering to collect data in the field." When Franklyn finished his project, he went on to help David Webb map the plants of Ireland. And he also encouraged fellow scientists, to make similar atlases of distribution; for example, zoologists could map the distribution of mammals, butterflies, and other life forms. Franklyn adored leading groups of people on field trips by any means available - bicycle, train, or on foot. He was excellent with volunteers and little details - like dots - but he wasn't considered to be a sharp strategist. In an unpublished 1965 Biographical Sketch, Frank said, "[I] Rarely if ever relax [and I] read perhaps two novels a year – at Christmas and during the summer holiday – nearly always spent abroad ... [My] favorite reading is Jane Austen and Dickens: take one of the latter on each long journey. I remember reading Pickwick in the Pickwick Hotel, San Francisco. [I'm also] very fond of music, especially Mozart and Britten. Britten's Spring Symphony and Elgar's Introduction and Allegro and Violin Concerto spell out for me the Englishness of England which I want to see preserved." And here's a charming little snippet about Franklyn's personality that was captured in a recent twitter exchange. On September 14th, 2018 the fanatical botanist Mick Crawley posted that he was, "Botanizing from the train. Some species are so distinctive that you can identify them with confidence, even at high speed. The triffid-like climber that scrambles over so many rail-side fences, covered with masses of tiny white flowers, is Fallopia baldschuanica ("Fa-LOW-PEE-ah Bald-shoe-AYE-nick-ah:)." (aka The Silver Lace Vine) Mick's tweet drew the attention of the Chief Exec of the Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Stephen Trotter, who replied, "Reminds me of the late Franklyn Perring who when botanizing from a car defined species as being 30mph, 50mph or 70mph plants!" To which, I replied, "Ha! Love this insight - Plant ID at high speeds. What a concept!" Thank you, Franklyn Perring, for the new botanical sport! And, it's something we can actually safely do during the pandemic.   Unearthed Words August 1st is Lammas Day ("La-MA-ss"). Lammas was a festival that celebrated the annual wheat and corn harvest. After Lammas Day, corn ripens as much by night as by day. And, Lammas is a cross-quarter day - a day between an equinox (when the sun sets due west) and a solstice. In this case, Lammas is the mid-point between the summer solstice and the autumn equinox. Here are some poems to welcome August. Fairest of the months!  Ripe summer's Queen  The hey-day of the year  With robes that gleam with sunny sheen  Sweet August doth appear.  — R. Combe Miller, English poet and clergyman, Fairest of the Months   The brilliant poppy flaunts her head  Amidst the ripening grain,  And adds her voice to sell the song  That August's here again.  ― Helen Winslow, American editor and journalist   Buttercup nodded and said good-bye, Clover and Daisy went off together, But the fragrant Waterlilies lie Yet moored in the golden August weather. The swallows chatter about their flight, The cricket chirps like a rare good fellow, The asters twinkle in clusters bright, While the corn grows ripe and the apples mellow. — Celia Laighton Thaxter, American writer and poet, August   Note: The poet Celia Laighton Thaxter grew up on Appledore Island. Celia's dad built a hotel on the island, and it became a hub for creatives and a muse for many. Along with creating a lovely cut flower garden, Celia wrote a book called  An Island Garden. Grow That Garden Library In Bloom by Ngoc Minh Ngo("Nah-OW-P min NO") This book came out in 2016, and the subtitle is Creating and Living With Flowers. "The first reason to buy the book is Ngoc Minh Ngo is one of the best garden photographers at work these days. She is as hypnotized as anybody by the heartbreaking simplicity of a dogwood blossom as its petals unfurl. But what sets her apart is her ability to convey with a camera how much that moment means to her." "The photographer Ngoc Minh Ngo celebrates people who make beauty their life’s work with the gorgeous IN BLOOM: Creating and Living With Flowers (Rizzoli, $45). The textile and wallpaper designer Neisha Crosland covers the walls of her London house with chinoiserie-style flowers. The potter Frances Palmer imprints clay vessels with the vivid dahlias from her Connecticut garden. The horticulturalist Umberto Pasti celebrates Morocco’s rich floral history in tile and fabric. The painter Claire Basler rings rooms with floral murals in her French chateau, while in the Bronx, Livia Cetti cuts, dyes, crimps, and folds paper into exquisite flower arrangements. Each place is wondrous; for those not lucky enough to have friends around to enhance life with such magic, Ngo’s enchanting photographs invite us in." —New York Times Book Review   "Oh, the dahlias. Oh, the aged Moroccan tiles. Oh, the coppery-brown irises. In Bloom is about creative types whose work life revolves around flowers. For most of them, their lives, period, revolve around flowers. Certain flowers, all flowers, fresh flowers, dead flowers." —Dallas Morning News   This book is 224 pages of floral inspiration from one of the best botanical photographers of our time. You can get a copy of In Bloom by Ngoc Minh Ngo and support the show, using the Amazon Link in today's Show Notes for under $30    Today's Botanic Spark 1950  The Ithaca Journal out of Ithaca New York published a question from a reader. The reader wanted an answer to this question: Please list a few plants that are named for people.   Here is the answer: The poinsettia was named for Joel R. Poinsett, a famous statesman. Wisteria is named in honor of Caspar Wistar, ("Wiss-Star") a distinguished physician, and scientist of Philadelphia. Leonard Fuchs, a German botanist, discovered the plant known as fuchsia, while William Forsyth, a Scotch botanist, is responsible for the name of forsythia. The name of Louis Antoine de Bougainville, a French soldier and explorer, is perpetuated in the bougainvillea. The Paulownia is named for the Grand Duchess Anna Pavlovna, daughter of Czar Paul I.

Schumann: Symphony No. 1 in B-flat Major, Op. 38 "Spring Symphony" Tchaikovsky: Symphony No 1 in G minor, Op. 13 "Winter Dreams" Dominique Beaulieu, conductor CMD Paris Philharmonic in Orlean Purchase now at ClassicalRecordings.co

Songs of an April Morning

Symphony No. 1 in B flat major, Op. 38 "Spring"Robert SchumannPhilharmonia OrchestraRiccardo Muti, ConductorAvailable on Arkivmusic.com  When it’s winter, we long for spring. So it makes sense that great music about spring would be written in winter, when we need it most. Maybe spring fever was part of the reason Robert Schumann was able to sketch out his Symphony No.1, the “Spring” Symphony, over just four days in January of 1841. And he did all the orchestration in a three-week space that February. Something we know inspired Schumann was a poem by German writer Adolph Böttger. How inspiring was this poem? Here are two lines from the last stanza of Böttger’s poem: “O wende, wende deinen Lauf/Im Thale blüht der Frühling auf!" (“O, turn, O turn and change your course/In the valley, Spring blooms forth.") But listen to how those German words and the opening notes of Schumann’s symphony go together. Schumann scored those words, didn’t he? Schumann gave spring-themed titles to each of the four movements in this symphony: “The Beginning of Spring,” “Evening,” “Merry Playmates” and “Spring in Full Bloom.” He took the titles out before the symphony was published, but the work remains Schumann’s “Spring” Symphony. Here is the first movement, played by the Philharmonia Orchestra, conducted by Riccardo Muti. Episodes of My Classical Podcast are available for download through the WQXR App. Download it for IOS and Android Devices. How to use the WQXR App. This recording is provided courtesy of Warner Classics/Erato  

In today's Proms Music Guide, Andrew McGregor talks about Britten's Spring Symphony.

Roy Plomley's castaway is portrait painter June Mendoza. Favourite track: Spring Symphony by Benjamin Britten Book: The Penguin Chronology of the Modern World by Neville Williams Luxury: Canvases, brushes and paint

Roy Plomley's castaway is portrait painter June Mendoza.Favourite track: Spring Symphony by Benjamin Britten Book: The Penguin Chronology of the Modern World by Neville Williams Luxury: Canvases, brushes and paint

Roy Plomley's castaway is playwright Christopher Fry. Favourite track: Spring Symphony by Benjamin Britten Book: The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations Luxury: Rocking chair

Roy Plomley's castaway is playwright Christopher Fry.Favourite track: Spring Symphony by Benjamin Britten Book: The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations Luxury: Rocking chair